OUR OPINION

Turning a good deal bad

Published: Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 6:42 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 6:43 a.m.

When the Marion County Commission and the Ocala City Council joined forces five years ago and, with the community's two big hospitals, formed the Emergency Medical Services Alliance, it was rare and refreshing to see the two long-feuding governments working together for good of the whole, city and county alike.

So it is disappointing now that EMSA is about to end its five-year run and be folded into the county Fire-Rescue that the City Council is trying to strongarm the county for $1 million cash for what it claims is its share of the ambulance service's assets. Nothing has been sold and nothing has been bought. Yet the city says it is owed $1 million.

That's nonsense. All that has happened is one public entity, the county, has taken over management of the ambulance service from another public entity --- fulfilling a state-mandated responsibility in the process.

It is difficult to determine what is more of an affront — the city's sheer greed or the absence of civic responsibility by an elected government body. For the citizens of Marion County and Ocala, this is not a matter of profit and loss, it is a matter of life and death.

EMSA was formed in 2003 after Munroe Regional, which had operated the ambulance service for 25 years, said it could no longer absorb the $5 million-a-year financial loss. The county, city and hospitals quickly and admirably rallied to ensure there was no disruption of this vital public safety service. The group joined into a five-year agreement and created EMSA as a bridge until a workable long-term solution could be found. The city and hospitals each agreed to pony up $1 million a year for the term of the alliance, with the county covering any remaining red ink.

From the outset there was little doubt the county was the likely — and obvious — operator of the ambulance service. That formally occurs on Oct. 1.

The city earlier this year, however, indicated it might want to create its own emergency medical service. The County Commission, which under law would have to approve such a service, rejected the notion, pointing out — correctly — that it needs the more lucrative and shorter city runs to make the service fiscally manageable in the remainder of our sprawling county. The City Council, in turn, rejected a proposal by the County Commission for a municipal services taxing unit in the city to cover its share of the EMS operational costs. See a pattern here? And now, the City Council's latest misguided behavior.

Ambulance service is not a money-maker. It wasn't for Munroe. It wasn't for EMSA. And it is expected to record an estimated $8 million shortfall this year.

The city should drop its claim to a share of the EMSA assets and be glad its citizens have medical assistance just moments away if, heaven forbid, it is needed. Yes, times are tough for governments just as they are for the people. But holding up the county for $1 million will simply exacerbate and shift the public's burden. And besides, the city is fond of pointing out that every day its population of 60,000 swells by up to 100,000 people because of county residents coming in to work, shop and conduct business and commerce. In other words, county residents contribute mightily to the city's prosperity and productivity and having EMS available is essential. The city should help facilitate the EMS switchover, not create roadblocks with ridiculous demands for assets it never owned.

It is time for the Ocala City Council to drop its indefensible $1 million claim. The EMSA deal, regardless of what the lawyer-written agreement said, was a "service" agreement to make sure the people of Marion County, including Ocala, had uninterrupted access to emergency medical service. It was never intended to be a business deal that, at the end of the agreement, would see a fleet of ambulances, a stockpile of medical supplies and any cash on hand divvied up between the partners.

The Ocala City Council is looking petty. When it was a "partner" with the county and the hospitals, good things happened that made the citizenry feel proud and safe. By demanding money it is not entitled to, just the opposite is likely to result.

<p>When the Marion County Commission and the Ocala City Council joined forces five years ago and, with the community's two big hospitals, formed the Emergency Medical Services Alliance, it was rare and refreshing to see the two long-feuding governments working together for good of the whole, city and county alike.</p><p>So it is disappointing now that EMSA is about to end its five-year run and be folded into the county Fire-Rescue that the City Council is trying to strongarm the county for $1 million cash for what it claims is its share of the ambulance service's assets. Nothing has been sold and nothing has been bought. Yet the city says it is owed $1 million.</p><p>That's nonsense. All that has happened is one public entity, the county, has taken over management of the ambulance service from another public entity --- fulfilling a state-mandated responsibility in the process.</p><p>It is difficult to determine what is more of an affront  the city's sheer greed or the absence of civic responsibility by an elected government body. For the citizens of Marion County and Ocala, this is not a matter of profit and loss, it is a matter of life and death.</p><p>EMSA was formed in 2003 after Munroe Regional, which had operated the ambulance service for 25 years, said it could no longer absorb the $5 million-a-year financial loss. The county, city and hospitals quickly and admirably rallied to ensure there was no disruption of this vital public safety service. The group joined into a five-year agreement and created EMSA as a bridge until a workable long-term solution could be found. The city and hospitals each agreed to pony up $1 million a year for the term of the alliance, with the county covering any remaining red ink.</p><p>From the outset there was little doubt the county was the likely  and obvious  operator of the ambulance service. That formally occurs on Oct. 1.</p><p>The city earlier this year, however, indicated it might want to create its own emergency medical service. The County Commission, which under law would have to approve such a service, rejected the notion, pointing out  correctly  that it needs the more lucrative and shorter city runs to make the service fiscally manageable in the remainder of our sprawling county. The City Council, in turn, rejected a proposal by the County Commission for a municipal services taxing unit in the city to cover its share of the EMS operational costs. See a pattern here? And now, the City Council's latest misguided behavior.</p><p>Ambulance service is not a money-maker. It wasn't for Munroe. It wasn't for EMSA. And it is expected to record an estimated $8 million shortfall this year.</p><p>The city should drop its claim to a share of the EMSA assets and be glad its citizens have medical assistance just moments away if, heaven forbid, it is needed. Yes, times are tough for governments just as they are for the people. But holding up the county for $1 million will simply exacerbate and shift the public's burden. And besides, the city is fond of pointing out that every day its population of 60,000 swells by up to 100,000 people because of county residents coming in to work, shop and conduct business and commerce. In other words, county residents contribute mightily to the city's prosperity and productivity and having EMS available is essential. The city should help facilitate the EMS switchover, not create roadblocks with ridiculous demands for assets it never owned.</p><p>It is time for the Ocala City Council to drop its indefensible $1 million claim. The EMSA deal, regardless of what the lawyer-written agreement said, was a "service" agreement to make sure the people of Marion County, including Ocala, had uninterrupted access to emergency medical service. It was never intended to be a business deal that, at the end of the agreement, would see a fleet of ambulances, a stockpile of medical supplies and any cash on hand divvied up between the partners.</p><p>The Ocala City Council is looking petty. When it was a "partner" with the county and the hospitals, good things happened that made the citizenry feel proud and safe. By demanding money it is not entitled to, just the opposite is likely to result.</p>